Stroller, bed reducers, bathtubs and accessories: DGCCRF alerts on child care purchases made on the Internet

By fashionlifeshopping 31/05/2022 827 Views

By Mélodie CapronnierPublié le Partagersend by e-mail

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Je certifie ne pas envoyer d'e-mail indésirableAttention à ce que vous achetez sur Internet pour votre bébé. Une enquête constate de nombreux manquements à la sécurité des enfants.

The safety of the products we buy for our children is crucial. For this reason, a study by the Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and the Suppression of frauds (DGCCRF) needs the attention of parents. Published on 24 January 2022, it reveals numerous safety deficiencies, particularly for childcare items sold on the Internet.

Lack of security warning

The survey was conducted among 211 establishments, including manufacturers, retail outlets, specialty stores and online vendors. "in the course of their investigations, the investigators found real disparities in the control of the regulations between all these operators," explains the report. The safest signs are those specialized in child care and those of mass distribution.

On the other hand, selling authors "are still largely unaware of the applicable regulations; they tend to trust suppliers and do not systematically carry out checks; some mandatory normative references at the point of sale are sometimes omitted and they do not always ensure appropriate regulatory monitoring".? The biggest problem is in the area of online sales sites, where "distance selling regulations are not, on the whole, properly applied". For example, at some sites, important information such as traceability, dimensions and, above all, essential characteristics such as recommended weight, height and age limits, safety warnings, etc., are not available.

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Three particularly problematic product categories

On the Internet or in stores, three categories of products are particularly affected by these deficiencies. First of all, with regard to bath aids and baby baths, "the investigators sometimes found that there were no important instructions for use, such as not to leave the child alone at risk of drowning or that the water level should not exceed the child's navel". When present, the information may be difficult to read or invisible during use (for example, when located under the product). The strollers are then found, where "a number of markings" are missing (maximum height of the mattress of the basket, do not use when the child can sit or turn around, do not leave the child unattended, check that everything is locked ", etc.).

Poussette, réducteurs de lit, baignoires et accessoires : la DGCCRF alerte sur les achats puériculture faits sur Internet

Finally, bed reducers are particularly problematic. "as there is no applicable standard, the investigators noted the heterogeneity of the information provided to consumers. Some warnings to avoid the risk of suffocation are not always present, such as the prohibition of the use of the reducer when the child can turn around. Similarly, in some cases, the investigators pointed to the absence of certain information intended to inform the consumer directly at the point of sale prior to purchase, such as the maximum age of fitness (or height and weight) of the child for whom the reducer is intended or the correct indication of the baby's sleeping position in order to avoid any risk ", explains the DGCCRF report.

Controls and withdrawals

In the course of the investigation, 623 control actions were carried out. With regard to the lack of safety information, "professionals have, in general and where possible, taken voluntary compliance measures to re-label markings or to add missing warnings in new leaflets. Patches have been put in place easily for own-label products, but more difficult for other products." (2) as regards the lack of safety information, "professionals have, in general and where possible, taken voluntary compliance measures to re-label markings or to add missing warnings in new leaflets." patches were put in place easily for own-label products, but more difficult for other products. When the products were non-compliant and hazardous, they were removed from the market and recalled. In total, there were 1,418 recalls and more than 25,000 reconformances.? "it is clear from these investigations that safety obligations are not yet fully understood by professionals in this sector," concludes the DGCCRF, calling for caution and vigilance on the part of suppliers and resellers.